Misfortune Cookie Vulnerability

A TP-Link TD-W8951ND modem

This article is about the so-called Misfortune Cookie vulnerability discovered on modem firmware in 2014, what it is and what to do about it.

Background

Each modem/router has a built-in web server that allows the modem to be configured by any computer via any browser.

In December 2014 Carnegie Mellon University CERT, based on findings by researchers from Check Point’s Malware and Vulnerability Research Group, discovered that some DSL modems/routers have a vulnerability that has existed in the firmware since 2002. This problem has been detected in the vulnerable versions of Allegro's RomPager that is part of the built-in web server portion of the firmware employed by many modems/routers, including some of those sold by NCF.

Vulnerability

The security vulnerability can be fixed in recent modems/routers by upgrading the firmware, replacing the web server with a newer version that does not have the security vulnerability.

Older modems do not have a firmware upgrade available, so it is important to make full use of the available security measures to prevent outsiders from using the web server to re-configure the modem in some undesirable way.

It is possible to access the web server in two different ways:

1. Connect to the web server from the outside, via the DSL line (WAN side). This route is closed if you are using a modem/router that has been configured by NCF - see Notes 2 & 3 below
2. Connect to the web server from the inside (LAN side), either via your Wi-Fi network or via an Ethernet cable. We assume that you are not going to let untrusted person/s connect to your LAN via Ethernet, so in the same manner you also need to prevent them from connecting to it wirelessly. It is therefore very important that you have good security on your Wi-Fi network, with a good password. If the modem/router has been configured by NCF, it will have a good password (by default, NCF uses your NCF DSL password also for log-in and Wi-Fi).

As a general rule, if your modem/router has been configured by NCF, and you are sure that unknown persons cannot use your Wi-Fi network, you have pretty good security against the "Misfortune Cookie" vulnerability.

Fixes

NCF has looked into this vulnerability and strongly recommends that you perform the following steps:

• Verify the hardware version - see this TP-Link page on how to find hardware version
• If your modem/router is in the level identified by TP-Link as upgradable (8951: 5 or 6, 8816: 8), please ensure that you update the firmware ASAP, either by yourself (if you are comfortable doing so) or by contacting NCF and arranging for the update to be done for you. You'll need to bring the modem/router with its power supply to NCF. No need to bring any cables (we have those).
• If your modem/router is not upgradable, NCF strongly recommends that you procure a newer modem/router, either from NCF or from a trusted store.
• Carnegie Mellon University CERT also suggests that units that do not have new firmware available can have their firmware replaced with dd-wrt, openwrt, or others. NCF members can do this themselves at their own risk.
• Regardless of the above, the following two TP-Link articles describe recommended safe practices:
  • How to protect your TP-LINK network devices from potential attack?
  • How to disable remote management function for TP-LINK ADSL modem router

As long as you have the following hardware versions and the latest corresponding firmware versions installed, then your modem/router is not affected by the Misfortune Cookie.

• TD-W8951ND:
  • hardware v5; firmware TD-W8951ND_V5_141114
  • hardware v6; firmware TD-W8951ND_V6_141027
• TD-8816: hardware v8; firmware TD-8816_V8_140311

The firmware (FW) version can be identified and upgraded by executing the following steps:

• Ensure that you have your NCF credentials on-hand before performing the upgrade
• Connect your desktop or laptop to the modem/router via Ethernet cable - this should NOT be done via Wi-Fi! If you try to perform this via your Wi-Fi connection, you'll see the following message: ERROR: FAIL TO UPDATE! Please note that only wired connection is allowed when using firmware upgrade or RomFile backup & upgrade function.
• Launch a browser and type in the URL 192.168.1.1 (see this TP-Link article)
• Username: admin, Password: NCF_DSL_password (by default, NCF uses the NCF_DSL_password also as the log-in_password and Wi-Fi Pre-Shared Key)
• Click on the Maintenance tab
• Click on the Firmware tab and verify that your FW version is as indicated above. If not, follow the TP-Link upgrade instructions.

Notes

1. A lot of your questions can be answered on TP-Links FAQs, feel free to browse
   
   
2. WAN vulnerability is blocked from the Internet by disabling WAN access via ACL (Access Control Level) settings:
   
   
   • Log into 192.168.1.1, press Enter
   • Enter Username: admin & Password: NCF_DSL_password, click on the Login button
   • Click on Access Management tab
   • Verify that ACL: Activated is selected. If not, do so
   • Verify that Interface: LAN is selected. If not, do so
3. NCF started disabling WAN access via ACL on all modems since July/August 2014. NCF also checked that Remote Management port is disabled. See this TP-Link article for further step-by-step instructions
   
   
4. LAN vulnerability is blocked from the LAN by using a strong Wi-Fi password (NCF applies the NCF_DSL_password here). If your Wi-Fi is open (where, in like many public Wi-Fi access places, no password is required to connect), then your modem is open to attack. We strongly advise that you implement Authentication Type: WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK with Encryption: TKIP/AES to secure your Wi-Fi network with the highest available settings

External links

• List of vulnerable modems